Upcoming Talks

  • The Enduring Legend of The Leatherman

    He remains an enigma. Nobody knows his true identity, and yet many people feel like they know him. The Leatherman was a “hobo” who spent the last 6 years of his life walking in the same, circuitous route of 360 miles, every 34 days, like clockwork between the Hudson and Connecticut Rivers in western CT and eastern NY. He always slept in caves and never caused any trouble. In fact, he was like a folk hero to many. Hear the details of this unusualy man’s life at this talk with Mike Allen.

    Thu, May 23, 2024; 6:30 p.m.

    Burlington Public LIbrary

    ZOOM ONLY - register with library

    (open to the public)

  • Ode to the Housatonic Railroad

    The iconic Housatonic Railroad continues to chug along, some 185 years after its first maiden run from Bridgeport to New Milford in 1840. It marked the arrival of a revolutionary new form of transportation – one that replaced stagecoaches and canal barges. The Housatonic has survived numerous ownership changes, the ending of passenger service, and a long period of inactivity along a crucial stretch of the line. But it’s still operating freight service today.
    You’ll hear all about this scenic route and learn where the former passenger stations were located

    Wed, Jun 5, 2024: 7:30 p.m.

    Brookfield Historical Society

    (open to the public)

  • The Weekend the British Burned Danbury

    It was fairly early on in the Revolutionary War when the British decided to destroy the Patriot military supply center in Danbury, so that George Washington’s troops couldn’t get logistical reinforcements. However, the April, 1777 weekend when the British raid occurred didn’t go exactly as planned for the British, as they met resistance wherever they went - which greatly surprised them. You can hear about the fiery raid on Danbury, the Battle of Ridgefield, and the skirmish in Saugatuck at this presentation.

    Tue, Jun 11, 2024; 6:30 p.m.

    Seymour Public Library

    (open to the public)

  • The Devil-Made-Me-Do-It Murder Case

    It was President’s Day in 1981, a national holiday that was shattered in Brookfield when the town’s first-ever murder occurred - a stabbing death at a local dog kennel. Making matters stranger, the girlfriend of the accused would tell reporters that her boyfriend was innocent, because he was demonically possessed and it was the devil who did the stabbing. Mike Allen covered the case and appears in the current Netflix documentary The Devil on Trial. He’ll share his insights.

    Tue, Jun 18, 2024; 6:30 p.m.

    Danbury Public Library

    ZOOM ONLY - register with library

    (open to the public)

  • Connecticut's Forgotten Relationship with the High Seas

    For centuries, Long Island Sound has been Connecticut’s gateway to the high seas and several incredible stories from the era of whale hunting and exploration are Connecticut’s alone - like the first American to spot Antarctica, the recovery of a British ship that turned into the President’s Resolute Desk in the Oval Office, to hosting the last intact wooden whaling ship, to hosting an array of eye-catching lighthouses. Hear about our state’s oftentimes forgotten history with the oceans at this presentation.

    Thu, Jun 27, 2024; 7:00 p.m.

    Ridgefield Public Library

    ZOOM ONLY - register with library

    (open to the public)

  • The Enduring Legend of The Leatherman

    Imagine walking the exact same loop route, through the exact same towns, every 34 days for 6 years in a row. That’s what a hobo called The Leatherman did in western CT and eastern NY. His 365-mile route was so precise that townspeople could predict when he would arrive again, like a full moon. Among the mysteries: who was he? And what happened to his leather suit and body? Hear the story in this presentation.

    Thu, Jul 25, 2024; 6:30 p.m.

    Woodbury Public Library

    (open to the public)

  • When CT Thumbed its Nose at Prohibition

    Connecticut was against the idea of a ban on alcohol from the earliest days of its proposal. When the Constitution was amended, however, it became the law of the land. How did CT respond? The state essentially thumbed its nose at the ban. Many rum-runners and bootleggers populated the state, especially along Long Island Sound, where boats brought booze into the state regularly. Hear all about it at this presentation.

    Wed, Jan 8, 2025; 6:30 p.m.

    EC Scranton Memorial Library in Madison

    (open to the public)

Previous Talks

  • The Devil-Made-Me-Do-It Murder Case

    May 13, 2024

    Humanists-Freethinkers of Fairfield County

  • How CT Thumbed its Nose at Prohibition

    May 8, 2024

    East Granby Historical Society

  • The Devil-Made-Me-Do-It Murder Case

    May 3, 2024

    Greater Danbury Bar Association

  • The Battle of Charcoal Run

    May 2, 2024

    Watertown Public Library

  • Redding's Favorite Son: Mark Twain

    April 25, 2025

    Sherman Public Library

  • How the Battle of Ridgefield Impacted the Revolutionary War

    April 24, 2024

    Ridgefield Historical Society

  • The Enduring Legend of The Leatherman

    April 17, 2024

    Killingworth Public Library

  • The Weekend the British Burned Danbury

    April 9, 2024

    Drum Hill Daughters of the American Revolution

    Wilton Library

  • The Greatest Showman on Earth: PT Barnum

    March 20, 2024

    North Branford Public Library

  • How CT Thumbed its Nose at Prohibition

    March 15, 2024

    New Haven Free Public Library

  • The Weekend the British Burned Danbury

    March 11, 2024

    Lady Fenwick Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution

  • Did a CT Woman Kill Jack the Ripper?

    March 7, 2024

    Bethel Public Library

  • The Greatest Showman on Earth: PT Barnum

    February 27, 2024

    Danbury-New Fairfield Women’s Club

  • The Enduring Legacy of The Leatherman

    February 21, 2024

    North Branford Public Library

  • The Devil-Made-Me-Do-It Murder Case

    January 31, 2024

    New Milford Public Library

  • The Weekend the British Burned Danbury

    January 25, 2024

    Ridgefield Public Library

  • The Devil-Made-Me-Do-It Murder Case

    January 24, 2024

    North Branford Library

  • How CT Thumbed Its Nose at Prohibition

    January 17, 2024

    Wallingford Public Library

  • It Split CT in Half - Physically and Politically: The Farmington Canal

    December 7, 2023

    Farmington Public Library

  • The Legend of The Leatherman Lives On

    December 6, 2023

    Seymour Public Library

  • The Legend of The Leatherman Lives On

    December 6, 2023

    Greater Danbury Area Men’s Club

  • The Greatest Showman on Earth: P.T. Barnum

    November 19, 2023

    Newtown Historical Society

  • The Legend of The Leatherman Lives On

    November 15, 2023

    New Fairfield Historical Society

  • The Greatest Showman on Earth: P.T. Barnum

    November 8, 2023

    Sherman Public Library

  • The Devil-Made-Me-Do-It Murder Case

    October 26, 2023

    Bethel Public Library

  • How CT Thumbed its Nose at Prohibition

    October 18, 2023

    New Fairfield Historical Society

  • Hiding in Plain Sight: CT's Stone Mile Markers

    October 5, 2023

    New Fairfield Historical Society

  • The Legend of the Leatherman Lives On

    September 27, 2023

    Sherman Public Library

  • The Trail of the Whispering Giants

    September 20, 2023

    Cheshire Public Library

  • Moses Cleaveland and the Western Reserve

    September 8, 2023

    Canterbury Historical Society

  • The Farmington Canal: It Split Connecticut Physically and Politically

    July 12, 2023

    Cheshire Public Library

  • Redding's Favorite Son: Mark Twain

    June 28, 2023

    New Fairfield Historical Society

  • Amazing Tales CT: Podcasting About Connecticut History

    June 27, 2023

    East Hampton Public Library

  • Did a CT Woman Kill Jack the Ripper?

    June 15, 2023

    New Fairfield Senior Center

  • The Weekend the British Burned Danbury

    May 20, 2023

    Mary Clap Wooster Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution

  • Ode to the Housatonic Railroad

    April 4, 2023

    New Milford Library

  • Amazing Tales CT: Podcasting About Connecticut History

    March 30, 2023

    Mark Twain Library

  • The British Raid on Danbury

    March 28, 2023

    Redding Chapter of the American Revolution History Club

  • Mark Twain: A Connecticut Yankee?

    March 13, 2023

    Humanists-Freethinkers of Fairfield County

  • The Greatest Showman on Earth: PT Barnum

    March 9, 2023

    New Fairfield Senior Center

  • Stone Mile Markers in Connecticut

    February 21, 2023

    Woodbury Public Library (Zoom)

  • Did a CT Woman Kill Jack the Ripper?

    February 18, 2023

    New Milford Public Library

  • Ode to the Housatonic Railroad

    February 7, 2023

    New Milford Public Library/Zoom

  • Prohibition in Connecticut

    January 26, 2023

    The Linden

  • The Civil War Battle of Charcoal Run

    January 11, 2023

    Greater Danbury Men’s Club

  • The Greatest Showman on Earth: PT Barnum

    January 5, 2023

    Bethel Library

  • The Leatherman

    November 30, 2022

    The Linden

  • The Greatest Showman on Earth: PT Barnum

    November 1, 2022

    New Fairfield Historical Society

  • The Devil-Made-Me-Do-It Murder Case

    October 20, 2022

    The Linden

  • The Civil War Battle of Charcoal Run

    October 12, 2022

    New Fairfield Historical Society

  • Did a CT Woman Kill Jack the Ripper?

    September 9, 2022

    Merwinsville Hotel

  • The Devil-Made-Me-Do-It Murder Case

    August 17, 2022

    New Fairfield Historical Society

  • The Weekend the British Burned Danbury

    July 20, 2022

    New Fairfield Historical Society

  • Ode to the Housatonic Railroad

    June 22, 2022

    New Fairfield Historical Society

  • The Trail of the Whispering Giants

    March 16, 2022

    Groton Library

  • The Leatherman

    December 9, 2021

    New Fairfield Senior Center

  • Former Stations on the Housatonic Railroad

    September 10, 2021

    Merwinsville Hotel

Booking Contact

amazingtalesct@gmail.com